29 October 2008

Talita's Mexican Kitchen

I'm always kind of on the fence about Tex-Mex cuisine. Most Americans are more used to food from the American Southwest than they are used to the food from different regions of Mexico. A taco from Taco Bell looks nothing like a taco from Veracruz. You can't order chili or tortilla chips in Guadalajara, nor can you order ceviche at Don Pablo's in Kansas City. If you want AUTHENTIC Mexican food, you are better off going to the small neighborhood greasy spoon then you are going to Las Margaritas or El Vaquero.

Talita's is one of these cool neighborhood spots that provide the best of both worlds. You could easily drive past the small storefront on Southwest Boulevard and Broadway in Grove City. Once you find the restaurant, it becomes evident that they are more Tex-Mex than Mexican-proper. They proudly advertise their Brownsville-style fare on the windows and in the menu.

The good news for vegetarians is that both the beans and the rice are made with vegetable oil. They are, therefore, vegetarian friendly.

Talita's specializes in giant burritos. Vegetarians can order them wet and cheesy (drowned in enchilada sauce and cheese) or dry (with lettuce, tomato and onion). They can be ordered with a combination of beans, rice and/or cheese. You can also order a side of rice and beans for about a $1.50. The burrito was so big that I couldn't handle side dishes, but if you have a huge appetite, you should go for broke with extra rice and beans.

I also ordered chips with salsa and avocado dip (obviously this is Texas slang for guacamole). The salsa and chips are $1.50 extra. I wasn't wild about the salsa, although it was obviously homemade. It had large chunks of tomato and was fairly mild. The guacamole, on the other hand, was delicious.

The owners and staff are very friendly. The interior of the restaurant is replete with military pictures and commemorative decorations. If I had to guess, this might be the best place for service people to get a discount in Grove City.

Talita's does serve alcohol. I didn't get a chance to check it out, but they have beer and margaritas.